Plastering machine



March 20, 1928.

J. F. RAUS PLASTERING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24. 1926 WTNESSES Wig? 2 $heets Sheet 1 fig. .5.

March 20, 1928. 1,663,416

J. F. RAUS PLASTERING MACHINE Filed Feb 24 195g 5 1 H 5 J 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f g 5 i i I j INVENTOR Patented Mar. 20,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F. RAUS, on NEW Yonx, N. Y.

PLASTERING MACHINE.

Application filed l iebruary The present invention is concerned with the provision of a machine'for applying a coat of material in a plastic condition to walls, ceilings, or other flat surfaces, and finds its preferred embodiment in a plastering machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character with which coats of plaster of uniform, predetermined thickness may be evenly applied to the walls or ceiling of a room.

Preferably the machine of the present invention includes a travelling carriage mounted for movement along a track. The track in turn is adj ustably mounted relative to a substantial base frame, so that the track may be shifted into proper position relative to a wall or ceiling surface, and then the carriage shifted along the trackto effect plastering of said surface. The carriage includes a plaster reservoir and a reservoir for a lubricant, such as water, and means is provided for feeding the plaster and lubricant on to the surface of the wall and smoothing them down with a trowel.

It is highly desirable for the efficient operation of the machine, that the means for feeding the plaster be synchronized with the means for driving the carriage along the track, so that the plaster will be applied with uniformity as the carriage is shifted along the track. By synchronizing the feeding means and the carria e driving means, the exact speed with whic the carriage is driven becomes relatively unimportant, since the feed of the material will be slowed down or sped up, in accordance with the speed of the carriage, and a uniform coating of plaster will be applied at all times.

Preferably the plaster applying means is arranged to deliver and apply plaster to a relatively wide swathe of wall or ceiling surface, so that by the time the carriage has moved from one side of a ceiling to the other, a strip of plaster of considerable width will have been applied.

In this connection it is to be noted that the main frame upon which the track is adjustably mounted is itself set in suitable guide members constituting a track disposed at right angles to the carriage track. These guide members are trued up so that they are parallel to the surface being operated upon. Thus. when the main .frame is shifted on its tracks to permit the plaster- V 24, 1926. Serial No. 80,418.

7 justably supports the carriage rail is so constructed that it may conveniently support the carriage in position for operating on either a vertical surface or a horizontal surface. In other words, walls and ceilings may be plastered with equal facility by the simple expedientof properly emplacing the main frame and adjusting the carriage guide track relative thereto.

j The machine in its preferred embodiment also includes numerous refinements, such for instance as means for regulating the depth of the plaster coating which it applies, means for selectively changing the speed ratios of the carriage driving means, and material feeding means, and means for protecting the working parts of the machine from falling plaster and scratcher means which is detachably mounted on the carriage and may be used to scratch the first coats of plaster, and removed when the finishing coats are applied.

I Further objects of the invention are to provide a machine of this character which will be of simple practical construction, which will be rugged, durable and efiicient in use, which may be conveniently manipulated, which will effect a material economy of time and labor in .a plastering operation, and which may be manufactured at a reasonable cost;

With the above notedand other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of arts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention maybe more fully understood from the following descrip tion in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein v One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig.1 is a side view of the entire machine while in operation;

Fig. 2 a front view and Fig. 3 a plan v ew of the same;

In this manner the entire surface of Fig. 4 a horizontal section of one end of the supporting frame;

Fig. 5 a transverse section of the plaster and water container showing the arrangement of the plaster and water compartments with their pistons and combined mechanism;

Fig. 6 a front view of the same with the lower part of the casing removed to show the piston and travel mechanisms.

Fig. 7 a side View of the same container with the lower end removed.

Fig. 8 a deail .of the locking pins of the cover of the plaster compartment;

Fig. 9 a plan view of said container showing half of its top and half of its horizontal section just above the operating mechanism;

- Fig. 10 a set of interchangeable gears for said mechanism;

Fig. 11 a partial detail of the operating mechanism; and

Fig. 12 the detail of a pawl working in combination with the rail-rack. It is to be noted first of all that the plaster and water container 1, as seen in Fig. 1, holds secured on the rail-rack 2 by means described later. It cannot fall off in whichever position the entire machine is placed but it is, nevertheless, endowed with free movement along the rail-rack 2 when in operation.

It is furthermore to be noted that the supporting frame 3, seen in the same Fig. 1, and with it the whole machine, is reversible. That is, it can be placed either horizontally or vertically, according to whether a ceiling or a wall is to be plastered.

When a ceiling is to be plastered, the frame 3 is placed horizontally as shown in Fig. 1. The ii-shaped recess f of the end members 5 of thesame fit snugly over the two trapezoidallyshaped timbers 3. The latter serve both as supports and guides. They are temporarily fastened on trestles of suitable height and laid true and level with reference to the work to be done. The

frame, and with it the entire machine, is

' plastered in perfect alinement. In this case two wooden saddles 7, seen in the same Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 3, are placed over the guides 6 and a plank 8 laid over them to serve as a platform for the operator.

"W hen a wall is to be plastered the frame 3, and with it the entire machine, is reversed; that is, it is made to stand on one of its ends directly on the floor. One of the trapezoidally-shaped guides 6 then is laid as shown in Fig. 1, and the other either in .9 or 10, as shown in dotted lines in the same figure, according to which end of the frame is made to rest on the floor.

The two guides 6 are then levelled and aligned with reference to the wall and temporarily fastened on the floor, thereby looking the member 5 of the frame end between them, but the latter is obviously free to be slid between them at each new course of plaster. The locking device just described will prevent the said frame and the rest of the machine from falling over in any direction. Thus with the machine secured between the two locking guides the entire surface of a wall is plastered in perfect plumb and alignment. In this case the operator in order to reach the full height of the wall will have to use a step ladder which may even rest on the supporting frame itself.

The supporting frame, to be easily carried, is made detachable. As shown in Fig. 1, it consists first of two sides each made up of two longitudinal members 12 of convenient length nailed permanently to two transverse members 13 and one brace 14.

The two sides hold enclosed between them at "tCli end an inner sliding frame 15, and are-held together by means of the cross members 5, 16,1? and 18, which are fastened on them by means of the removable bolts 19, 20 and 21, thus forming a whole rigid structure. Each of the two inner frames 15 is made to slide in or out by means of the adjusting screw 22 to which the handwhcel 23 is fixed, both made of steel. The screw pivoted into the two bearings 24 fixed in frame 15 and runs through the tapped anchor 25, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4-. The latter is held firmly on the fixed member 18 by the bolts 26, consequently by turning the haudwheel 23 the frame 15 is made to move in or out, thus bringing the attached rail rack 2 and the container 1 it carries to the proper working line.

The rail-rack 2 consists of a wooden beam 27 stiffened at the bottom and top by the two pairs of steel angles 28 and 29, which are secured to the beam by the screws 30.

Between the two top angles 29 the steel rack 31 is imbedded and fastened to them by the screws 32. The bolts 33 hold the rail-rack firmly secured to the sliding frames 15. The plaster and water container it carries may he slid on it from either end, or likewise taken out and reversed at any time.

The plaster and water container 1 is made up of a steel plate casing surmounted by a cast top, all welded throughout. As seen in Fig. 5, it has one large compartment 341 for the plaster, and extending over the whole back of it one relatively small compartment 35 for the water; Each compartment has its own piston 36 and 37, respectively, for pushing plaster and water through their outlets. They work simultaneously as their rods 38 and 89 are connected at the bottom by the two arms 40. The rods 38, fixed into the plaster piston, are square-threaded screws. They mesh into the tapped holes of the helical gears 41 "and are forced to move up or down when an gears are made to' revolve in their socketsby the driving helical'gears 42, mounted on the shaft 43, which is driven by hand by means of the-crankhandle 44. "As the shaft 4:3 extends out of the casing on both sides, as shown in Fig. 6,

the crank-handle may be removed from one side and placed on the other, according to what the case may require.

Actuated from the same crank-handle 4A and shaft 43 is the rack pinion 4:5 by means of the transmission gears l6, 4:7 and 18,. as

shown in Figs. 6, 7-, 9 and 11. In Fig. 9 it is clearly seen that the driving motion of the cranlehandle is first transmitted through the inner gears 46 to the outer gear 47, and in turn the gear t7 drives the gear 48 which is mounted on the square-sleeved terminal of the shaft 49 of the" said pinion 45. The purpose of this arrangement is, first, to allow the rack pinion 4:5 to be'disconnected at any time from the motionof the cranlehandle by pi'illing out the gear 48, as shown in Fig. 11, and so let the two pistons alone work and push'np plaster and water to their'outlets' after a new charge of these materials has been made, without disturbing the container from its position;second, to allow the two gears 47 and 48 to be interchanged with any of the two diiferential-combinations of gears 50 and 51, shown in Fig; 10.

By the latter arrangement, for every turn of the crank-handle the rackpinion will make one turn when gears 47 and d8, of

equal diameters,'are in place, as Shown in Figs. 7 and 9;0ne and one half turn and two turns, respectively, when either combination of gears 50 or 51 of Fig. 10 is substituted for them. The travel of the container 1 along the rail-rack 2, consequently, willbe directly proportional to the turns of pinion them both as a protection from falling plaster and a stop to hold in place gear l8or its substitute.

A pawl 54'engaging into the teeth of the rack 31 and mounted on the shaft 55, shown in Figs. 5, 9, and 12, with said shaft extending out of both sides ofthe casing, as seen in Fig. 6, and with twotorsional'springs 56, is provided to hold in place the container 1 at any height when walls are to be plastered 'and the frame 3 with the rail-rack 2 are, therefore, in vertical position. In Fig.- 12 (a) and (b) show the position of the pawl with respect to the rack when th-econtainer 1 is at rest and when in motion, re-' spectively. Said pawl may at any time be disconnected from the rack 31 by turning outwardly the handle 57, which fits either end of the shaft 55, and pressing down its pin 58, thereby locking it on the side of the container 1, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 9. In Fig. 5 also may be seen in dotted lines the position of the said pawl when disconnected from the rack.

Mounted onthe shafts 423 and 49 are also two pairs of'rollers 59 and 60, which together with the two angles 61 riveted to inner extensions of the casing plate keep the container 1 locked on the rail-rack i, by holding between them the flanges of the two angles 29, at same time end-owing said container with free movement along the said rail-rack, I

The whole mechanism of shafts, gear-sand pawlxis mounted into the steel frame 62 which is fixed into the container casing by means of the outer screws 63, seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 7. The casing extends beyond the frame 62 down to almost the bottomline of the rail-rack 2, first to protect the piston rods; second, to counteract in part theunbalanced weight of the container itself when the machine is placed vertically. Weights may be placed to this effect in its vacant space if necessary.

On top of the plaster. compartment is the long and narrow outlet (S t, and next to it fastened into a groove is the trowel 65. This has the two rounded edges visible in 1, 5 and 7, and a slit 366 in its middle,

shown in Figs. 3 and 9. extending from end to end, which connectsinto the internal holes ing the plaster from adhering to the trowel.

Placed behind the trowel and fastened into a groove is the scratcher 68, in order to automatically scratch the scratch coats of plaster, but it is removed when the brown and finish. coats are to be applied, and a blank is placed into its groove to prevent falling plaster collecting into it. Both the trowel and the scratcher are held in their grooves by the locks 69 and 70, respectively, which are turned to one sideyas shown indotted lines in Fig. 7, when either one is to be pulled out.

In order to refill the plaster compartment the cover 71 is removed from the casing by turning outwardly the hinged pins 72 and 73, as shown in dotted lines. in Fig. 8, which keep it locked. on the two ,fan-likeprojections of the outlet 64. In order to refill. the

water compartment the cover plate 74 of the hood 75 is simply slid off its watertight grooves shown in both Figs. 5 and 7.

Having thus described the details of my invention, I claim:

1. In a plastering machine, the combination with a supporting frame and a track adjustably carried thereby, of a carriage on the track, a plaster compartment in the carriage, a trowel mounted adjacent the outlet end of said compartment for smoothing the plaster delivered therefrom, means for propelling the carriage along the track, a follower piston for extruding plaster from the compartment, a common drive for said propelling and feeding means, and means for selectively uncoupling the propelling means from the drive, whereby when the plaster compartment is reloaded, the piston may force the plaster to the outlet opening without movement of the carriage on the track.

2. In a plastering machine, the combination with a supporting frame and a track adjustably carried thereby, of a carriage on the track, a plaster compartment in the carriage, a trowel mounted adjacent the outlet end of said compartment for smoothing the plaster delivered therefrom, a lubricant compartment in the carriage, means for delivering lubricant to the trowel, and means for extruding plaster from the outlet opening.

3. In a plastering machine, the combination with a supporting frame and a track adj-ustably carried thereby, of a carriage on the track, a plaster con'ipartment in the carriage, a trowel mounted adjacent the outlet end of said compartment for smoothing the plaster delivered therefrom, a lubricant compartment in the carriage, means for delivering lubricant to the trowel, and means for extruding plaster from the outlet opening, said lubricant feeding and plaster extruding means being connected together for simultaneous movement.

4. In a plastering machine, the combination with a supporting frame and a track adjustably carried thereby, of a carriage on the track, a plaster compartment in the carriage, a trowel mounted adjacent the outlet end of said compartment for smoothing the plaster delivered therefrom, a lubricant compartment in the carriage, means for delivering lubricant to the trowel, and means for extruding plaster from the outlet opening, said lubricant feeding and plaster extruding means being connected together for simultaneous movement, said feeding and eXtruding means comprising a pair of pistons and a bar rigidly connecting the pistons.

5. In a plastering machine, the combination with a supporting frame and a track adjustably carried thereby, of a carirage on the track, a plaster compartment in the carriage, a trowel mounted adjacent the outlet end of said compartment for smoothing the plaster delivered therefrom, a lubricant compartment in the carriage, means for delivering lubricant to the trowel, means for extruding plaster from the outlet opening, a drive shaft from which the feeding and extruding means are actuated, and carriage propelling means driven from said drive shaft.

6. A device as set forth in claim 2 and wherein the outlet opening for the lubricant is through the body of the trowel.

7. A device as set forth in claim 2, and whereinsupporting means for a removable scratcher is mounted on the carriage behind the trowel.

8. In a plastering machine, a track and a travelling carriage overhanging the track at opposite sides, plaster and water compartments in the carriage, pistons for forcing the plaster and waterfrom the compartments, and a trowel associated with the water outlet for smoothing the plaster.

9. In a plastering machine, a track and a travelling carriage overhanging the track at opposite sides, plaster and water compartments in the carriage, pistons for forcing the plaster and water from the compartments, a trowel associated with the water outlet for smoothing the plaster, and piston rods for the pistons mounted in the overhung portions of the carriage to balance the latter.

10. In a plastering machine, a track and a travelling carriage overhanging the track at opposite sides, plaster and water compartments in the carriage, pistons for forcing the plaster and water from the compartments, and a trowel associated with the water outlet for smoothil'ig the plaster, said track including a rack toothed portion, a gear on the carriage meshing with the rack, and a pawl for locking the carriage against retrograde gravitational movement on the track.

11. In a plastering machine, a track and a travelling carriage overhanging the track at opposite sides, plaster and. water compartments in the carriage, pistons for forcing the plaster and water from the compartments, and a trowel associated with the water outlet for smoothing the plaster, said track including a rack toothed portion, a gear on the carriage meshing with the rack, a pawl for locking the carriage against retrograde gravitational movement on the track, and means for selectively rendering the pawl inoperative.

12. In a plastering machine, a guide track adapted to be disposed in parallelism with the surface to be plastered, a main frame shiftable along the track,'a plaster carriage track on the main frame disposed at right angles to the main frame track, a plaster carriage movable along said carriage track, and means for adjusting the plaster carriage track relatively to the main frame track.

. 13. In a plastering machine, a track adapted to be disposed in parallel relation to the surface being plastered, a main frame shiftable along the track, a plaster carriage track adjustably supported on the main frame and disposed at right angles to the main frame track, means, carried by both sides of the main frame for interfitting with the track, whereby the main frame when laid on either side may be shifted along the track, said means cooperatively einterfitting with the track when the main frame is disposed in vertical position, whereby the main frame may be shifted along the track while in vertical position, and whereby the'plaster carriage track may consequently be disposed in either horizontal or a vertical position to plaster both walls and ceiling.

14. A device of the class described in claim 13 and including means for positively interlocking the main frame track with the main frame to prevent tilting when the main frame is in position to dispose the carriage track in a vertical plane.

Signed at New York city in the county of Bronx and State of New York this twentieth day of February A. D. 1926.

J OSEPH F. RAUS. 

